Dehydrator



May 12, 1931. H. M. GRn-'FOUL DEHYDRAT OR Filed April 9, 1929 N MNEGPN ATTORZVEIV .Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE DEHYDRATOR Application led April 9,' 1929. Serial No. 353,752.

This invention relates particularly to means for dehydrating fruits, nuts, vegetables and similar products.

One object of the invention is to provide a dehydrator that will be capable of accommodating a large quantity of material at one time and that will effectually subject all of the material to the dehydrating process.

Another object is to provide a dehydrator in which different materials requiring dilferent treatment as to air temperature, air velocity and humidity, may be subjected to the dehydrating process at the same time.

Still another object of the invention is t0 provide simple and ellicient means for securing the desired circulation of air through the dehydrator, and means for controlling the circulation of air through the dehydrator and for introducing air into the dehydrator and discharging the same therefrom. In the drawings: l Figure 1 is a sectional view of a dehydrator embodying my invention, taken on a horizontal plane.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a part of the dehydrator on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section below thefloor level on line 3 3 of Figure 1. Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 1 an enclosing structure divided longitudinally into three parallel tunnels, the two outer tunnels being the'drying tunnels and the central tunnel being the air heating tunnel, and indicated by the numerals 2, 2a and 3 respectively. In one end of the structure is formed a transverse chamber 4, this chamber communicating with all three tunnels', and adjoining the chamber 4 is another chamber 5 also arranged transversely of the structure and adapted to communicate with vchamber 4 and with the atmosphere.

Tunnel 3 has open communication with chamber 4 as at 6 and has a suitable air heating apparatus as 7 mounted therein. The end of the tunnel remote from the chamber 4 communicates with the atmosphere as at 8. A pair of baiile plates are mounted on the opposite side edges of the opening 6 as at 9. I

In each dehydrating tunnel as 2 is a door acontrolled end opening 10 through which the fruit may be introduced into the tunnel on suitable trucks, not shown, running on track l1. rlhe track terminates a distance from the opposite end of the tunnel and on a turntable las 12 by means of which a load of fruit may he turned end for end without exposing it to the outer air whereby both ends of the load of fruit may be presented to the incoming drying air to effect equal drying of the fruit. A door controlled opening'l is formed in the side of the structure adjacent the table 12 so that trays may be returned a distance along the track after being turned and then dis: charged laterally from the building when dried. y

At 14 is shown a blower fan mounted in the chamber 4 to draw air therefrom and to discharge into the tunnel 2, operating means for the fan being shown at l5.

Since the air discharged by the fan enters the tunnel 2 in a stream at a fixed point midway between the floor and ceiling, some means is desired to set up a turbulence in the entering air and causeit t'o mingle with the air in the tunnel in such a manner as to discharge upon the fruit with an equalized temperature at all points vwhere it enters the mass of fruit. To accomplish this I erect a battle element in tunnel 2 directly in front of the fan 14, the central portion of the elef ment consisting of a vertically arranged plate as 16 extending from floor to ceiling and presenting its edge to the fan and provided with oppositely directed laterally extending wing like parts as' indicated at 17 andy 18. This device el'ectually turns the air back upon itself and the entering air and the Not only do ierent materials require dif- Y ferent air temperatures for proper drying,

ing means disposed but different lots of material of the same kind sometimes require different treatment. By means of the structure and mode of operation described the air passing from the chamber i to either fan may be modified as desired by manipulation of thel adjacent door 22-22a.' For instance with door 22 closed the air will be discharged into tunnel 2 dry and at a high temperature, While with door'22a opened a distance the air discharged into tunnel 2a Will be at a lower temperature and its character modified by the addition of some moisture if so desired. By this'V means fruit like prunes may be dried in one tunnel and nuts may be dried in the other tunnel at the same time.

If at any time during the drying process it is desired to use the same drying air again,

-in part, as a means of modifying the air d1s charged into the chamber or tunnel 2 or 2a, then either bypass 20 or 20a, opened.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dehydrator comprising a housing having a plurality of parallel tunnels formed y therein and closed against communication with each other throughout their length, a chamber Within the housing communicating with all of the tunnels at one end, air heatin one of the tunnels, and means disposed in the chamber between the last named tunnel and each of the other tunnels to forcibly move the air from the heating tunnel to the others, and additional means Within the chamber operable to regulate the flow of air from the heating means and from the atmosphere Withoutvthe hous- 2. A dehydrator ing tunnel, a plurality of dehydrating tunnels, a chamber communicating with all of the tunnels, air circulating means Within the chamber, and additional means vWithin the chamber operable to regulate the flow of air from the heating tunnel and from the outside atmosphere.

3. A dehydrator comprising an air heating tunnel, a plurality of dehydrating tunnels, a chamber communicating With all the tunnels, air circulating means Within the chamber, Valve means Within each of the dehydrating tunnels at the entrance thereto, cooperating Valve means in the chamber, a conduit beneath each of the tunnels cooperating with the valve means to recirculate the low of heated air through the dehydrating tun nels.

HENRY M. GRIFFOUL.

or both, may be comprising an air` heat- 

